Because this would level up your productivity x 10
With all the productivity tips that are out there, I’ve learned that it is really important to have some sort of routine for your work or studies to keep you on top of everything.
I recently graduated from law school, and during my time at law school, I was also working as well. On top of that, I have this blog where I create and publish content. Let me just tell you, having routines for each of them was my saving grace.
This blog post is all about how you can create your own productive work/study routine, based on your current circumstances. No, it won’t be an exact routine you need to follow because everyone is different. That’s why, this blog post will go step by step on what you’ll need to do, to make your routine as personalized as possible.
Let’s dive in.
1 – Create a To-Do List: monthly, weekly, then daily
Whether you work or study, there are multiple tasks that you need to complete over some time, including lengthier projects (e.g. for study it’s assignments).
First, you need to create your monthly (can be more than a month) to-do list, especially those with deadlines. Then, you can break them down into weekly tasks so you can avoid doing them at the last minute. To break it down even further, then you can turn them into daily tasks.
One of the major reasons why this is so effective is that your large tasks can feel less overwhelming. Plus, the beauty of a to-do list is the dopamine hit of ticking off your to-do list. Whenever you tick something off, you feel motivated to keep going and complete the list.
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2 – Create a NOT-to-do list
Now we are going to the opposite end.
A not-to-do list is where you make a list of the things to NOT do. These include your distractions (e.g. your phone, social media, TV, etc).
If you would like to see how you can create a good NOT-to-do list, you can have a read of this blog post.
Just like a to-do list, the dopamine hit of ticking something off motivates you to complete the entire list. So, to tick something off your NOT-to-do list, all you have to do is not do that thing.
3 – Have a schedule
On top of a to-do list, it’s important to have some sort of schedule to get the to-do list done.
It’s one thing to create a to-do list. It’s another to plan on when you’ll execute it.
While you don’t have to timeblock every single hour of the day, just having a general idea of when you’ll work on your tasks and the other things you need to do is already sufficient. There is this powerful saying for a reason: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
So, to complete your to-do list, you also need to plan on how it’s going to fit into your day.
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4 – Have a system that helps you stay organized & on top of everything
Your “system” could be a paper planner or something electronic. For me, I use Google Calendar for my calendar planning & scheduling, and Notion for all of my organization.
You need to have some sort of system where you can easily plan your to-do lists, create your schedule, and organize anything else you need for your respective work or studies.
For example, when I was working as a freelance writer, I had a system that organized all my deadlines for the articles I was writing, brainstorming, and pitching ideas.
Even when I was a law student, I had a system that organized all my deadlines, classwork, assignments, and other components of my studies.
Everyone’s “systems” will be different and that’s why it’s important to figure out what works best for you. Once you figure that out, then you use it to your advantage like crazy!
5 – Use productivity techniques that actually work for you
Now, I can’t tell you the exact productivity tips, strategies, and techniques to use for your study/work routine because it’s different for everyone.
The productivity strategies I use, won’t necessarily work for everyone else. For example, I thrive with time blocking and the pomdero technique, but others feel like it doesn’t work for them… and that’s okay.
With all the productivity tips that is out there, you can have a go at trying some for yourself, and seeing what works. The only way to figure out what truly works for you is to try them out.
And once you figure them out, your productivity level x1000000000! :))
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6 – Take regular breaks
It is fair that no matter what productivity tips you use, it’s so important to take regular breaks. These include:
- Breaks in between your work sessions
- Breaks at the end of your workday
- Longer breaks of more than one day
Breaks in between your work sessions
I’ve read a bunch of different reasons why we need to take a break in between work sessions, especially if we are mainly working on a computer!
I even discovered for myself that if I’m on the computer for more than 2 hours without a break, it becomes harder to think and concentrate. That’s why I felt the difference when I started taking regular breaks.
How often you take your breaks is up to you, typically for me, my concentration levels last about 2 hours before it’s time for a recharge.
Breaks at the end of the workday
It’s also important to do something for yourself at the end of every work or study day. This can be incorporated into your night routine easily because it’s the end of the day.
What you do to wind down is up to you, but make sure to prioritize it so you can have energy, and show up as your best self for the next day.
Longer breaks
Then, there are the breaks where you step away from work/study for a day or two. Longer holidays also count as well!
This is my system when scheduling longer breaks:
- Every week, ONE rest day
- Every month, three-day weekend rest days
- Every quarter, one-week minimum rest
These rest days, it’s when I step away from anything law or content-related, and simply focus on rest, recharge, and doing activities that I love doing. Every week, I do my one rest day on Saturday, so I don’t do any content or law-related tasks then. Every month, I schedule at least one three-day weekend where I do the same. And every quarter, I typically have a trip planned, so it’s automatically included.
You can figure out what’s best for you based on what you need. The “longer than a day” breaks is just as important as the regular breaks during the day.
To Wrap Up
Hopefully, creating your to-do lists, listing your distractions, creating a schedule, and having your systems and productivity tips help you personalize your work/study routine. Having a work/study routine that is personalized to you is a game changer in your productivity because we thrive off what works best for us (it’s kind of obvious, right?).
If you do want more tips to be more productive, I have a mini e-book in the Free Resources Library called Small Steps to Productivity.
In the meantime, it’s time to thrive and 10x your productivity!
-Lauren 🙂
- 7 Time Saving Tips for Better Productivity
- How to Have a Productive Week
- Habits for Better Productivity
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, this is Lauren! I’m a law grad from Melbourne, Australia. On laurenbarri.com, I create content on all things personal development, productivity, self-care, and habits! I am super passionate about these topics because of how they helped me in all areas of my life, and I want to share it with others!
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